Conviction Details
A federal jury convicted former Major League Baseball outfielder Yasiel Puig on charges of obstructing justice and lying to investigators regarding his role in illegal sports betting. The verdict came after a 13-day trial in Los Angeles federal court.
Career Highlights
The 35-year-old Cuban-born player enjoyed six seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers before a final MLB stint in 2019 with the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians, where he earned U.S. citizenship. Puig later competed for two seasons in South Korea’s league, including last year with the Kiwoom Heroes, posting a .212 batting average, six home runs, and 20 RBIs. He returned to the U.S. due to a shoulder injury.
Investigation Origins
The charges stem from a 2017 probe into an illegal gambling operation led by ex-minor-league pitcher Wayne Nix. Authorities tracked Nix’s efforts to conceal income and launder money, which uncovered Puig’s involvement.
Betting Activity
Records show Puig placed bets through Nix’s operation starting in May 2019, accumulating losses of $282,900 by June. Between July and September 2019, he wagered 899 times on tennis, football, and basketball games via a Costa Rica-based website linked to Nix.
False Statements
During a January 2022 video interview with federal agents, attended by his lawyer, Puig denied any awareness of Nix’s gambling enterprise. Prosecutors also presented evidence that he falsely claimed on his 2019 U.S. naturalization application to have never engaged in illegal gambling.
Potential Sentence and Plea Withdrawal
Puig faces a maximum of five years in prison for lying to agents and up to 10 years for obstruction of justice. He initially agreed to a plea deal in August 2022 on one count of lying, which included a $55,000 fine, but later withdrew from it, prompting formal charges in 2023 and the subsequent trial.
